Ventromedial Nucleus
Hypothalamus (a part of the brain) is composed of microscopic groups of neurons called the nuclei. These nuclei (aggregation of neurons) are divided into different groups by imaginary lines and are not separated clearly from one another. One of these nuclei is the ventromedial nucleus.
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Ventromedial Nucleus
The ventromedial nucleus is situated between the lateral wall of the third ventricle and fornix (brain structures). To be more specific, it is bounded by the inter-nuclear area of the periventricular region on its medial side and by the lateral hypothalamic area on its lateral side.
It is generally divided, for descriptive purposes, into ventromedial part and dorsomedial part.
FUNCTIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
The ventromedial nucleus is an important part of the hypothalamus. Its important functions and the systems on which it has impact are discussed below.
Satiety Center
Its primary function is to inhibit our eating behavior. The amount of our food intake is controlled by satiety center present in the ventromedial nucleus. Stimulation of this region of the hypothalamus produces a feeling of fullness and reduces our food intake. Experiments have shown that lesion (damage) to this region produces an imbalance in our eating pattern resulting in uncontrollable appetite. This in turn causes an increase in eating which leads to overt weight gain and obesity.
Other functions
Some of the other functions include:
- Most of the sexual functions of our body are associated with the limbic system (a part of the brain). It has now been found that ventromedial nucleus also plays a role in female sexual behavior and induces sexual arousal.
- In males it controls the characteristics of voice and is associated with vocalization.
- It has also been found to have some influence on the rewarding processes of our brain. The ventromedial nucleus seems to have a large number of cannabinoid receptors as compared to the rest of the nuclei. These receptors produce a feeling of “reward” when stimulated. Ingesting cannabinoids have therefore been considered very useful in our learning behaviors.
- Some authorities now also consider that this region of our hypothalamus has a role in controlling the levels of sugar in our blood. Lesions to the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus in rats have been found to be associated with increased amounts of circulating sugar and insulin.
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